Recipes

After a long restricted pregnancy and life with a newborn, I have some renewed vigor. I am beginning to try out some new recipes from my Cooking Light Magazine. Thought I would share two of the favorites! Carly- Here's to Recipe Monday!

p.s. The renewed vigor has lasted over a month but I fear it might be slipping away :) - HOLD ON!

Open-Faced Chicken and Muenster Sandwiches with Apricot-Dijon Spread

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich)
Ingredients
4 teaspoons apricot preserves
4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 (2-ounce) slices country bread
Cooking spray
1 cup thinly sliced peeled Ambrosia or Fuji apple (about 1/3 pound)
1/4 cup prechopped onion
2 1/2 cups bagged prewashed spinach
2 cups shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast (about 12 ounces)
4 (1-ounce) Muenster cheese slices
Preparation
1. Preheat broiler.
2. Combine preserves and mustard in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Spread 1 side of each bread slice with 2 teaspoons mustard mixture. Place bread slices, mustard mixture side up, on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add apple and onion to pan; cook 3 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach begins to wilt. Layer each of 4 bread slices with 1/4 cup spinach mixture, 1/2 cup chicken, and 1 cheese slice. Place sandwiches on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; broil 1 1/2 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Remove from heat, and serve immediately.

Hoisin Glazed Beef Kebabs

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 kebab)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoon seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon chile paste with garlic
1 pound beef tenderloin filets, cut into 16 cubes
16 (2-inch) pieces green onions (about 4 onions)
16 grape tomatoes
Cooking spray
Preparation
1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add beef to bowl; toss well to coat. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes.
3. Thread 4 beef cubes, 4 onion pieces, and 4 tomatoes alternately onto each of 4 (12-inch) skewers. Place kebabs on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.